You can legally get married in Quezon City for about ₱400

A simple civil ceremony offers an affordable way for couples to legally tie the knot.

For many Filipinos, getting married feels like an expensive milestone that has to wait until they can afford a lavish celebration. Between the venue, catering, gowns, suits, flowers, photographers, and rings, wedding expenses can easily run into the hundreds of thousands of pesos.

But what if the legal act of getting married at City Hall costs only about ₱400?

In Quezon City, couples can secure a marriage license by paying ₱150 in filing fees to the Local Civil Registrar and ₱250 for the mandatory Family Planning Seminar conducted by the Quezon City Health Department, bringing the minimum city government processing cost to ₱400 before the marriage license is issued.

The basic city hall costs

The Local Civil Registrar collects only two fees for the marriage license application:

• Marriage License Application Form: ₱50
• Marriage License Filing Fee: ₱100
• Total LCR fees: ₱150

In addition, couples are required to complete the mandatory Family Planning Seminar, which costs ₱250 per couple and is a prerequisite for the issuance of the marriage license.

Together, these bring the minimum Quezon City Hall processing cost to ₱400.

Don’t forget the other expenses

The ₱400 does not cover everything.

Couples must still obtain documentary requirements, including PSA-issued Birth Certificates and Certificates of No Marriage (CENOMAR), along with photocopies, IDs, and other supporting documents. These prerequisite documents typically cost around ₱1,500 to ₱1,700 in total.

If the ceremony is officiated by the Mayor’s Office or a court judge, there is generally no professional officiant’s fee, although some courts may collect a minimal administrative or document-indexing fee depending on the branch.

Couples who prefer to marry at a private venue or on a specific date often hire a licensed priest, pastor, or minister, whose honorarium typically ranges from ₱6,000 to ₱10,000.

And of course, there’s the wedding itself. Rings, attire, makeup, flowers, photography, venue rental, catering, invitations, and reception costs are entirely optional—but these are what usually transform a simple legal ceremony into a six-figure celebration.

Marriage vs. wedding

The numbers highlight an important distinction: getting legally married and having a grand wedding are two different things.

For couples who simply want to begin married life together, a civil wedding remains one of the most affordable ways to do so. The legal commitment can happen now, while the dream celebration can always come later.

At a time when many Filipinos are delaying major life milestones because of rising costs, Quezon City’s civil marriage process is a reminder that forever doesn’t have to begin with an extravagant budget.

Sometimes, it begins with ₱400—and a heartfelt “I do.”

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